The German Fraunhofer Solar Energy Research Institute (ISE) cooperated with the EU-funded CPVMatch project to create a record of 41.4% for the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solar cell modules.
The photovoltaic module has an area of 122 cm2 and adopts a multi-junction stacked solar cell design. Multiple layers of battery active materials are stacked to absorb different wavelengths in the solar spectrum. Fraunhofer did not specify the battery materials used in this record-breaking module, but noted that they are based on III-V compound semiconductor materials.
This component relies on Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) technology-sunlight is condensed on a photovoltaic cell through a Fresnel lens and converted directly into electricity. The research team stated that the conversion efficiency was further improved by using achromatic lenses in the module. It turns out that this technology can achieve a very high level of efficiency, but since its performance is limited to areas with high direct solar radiation, it has been almost so far No commercial applications.
Andreas Bett, director of the Institute of Fraunhofer ISE, said: "We are very pleased that the results of these studies paved the way for further improvements in the efficiency of concentrator technology. Photovoltaic power generation is booming worldwide and we see this particularly efficient module technology has Huge potential, which significantly reduces the use of resources per unit area for energy conversion and contributes to sustainable development. "
As early as 2014, Fraunhofer ISE participated in a CPV technical cooperation project of Soitec in France, using a combination of a condenser and a III-V family of multi-junction solar cells to achieve a cell efficiency of 46%. Since then, Fraunhofer ISE has collaborated with the CPVMatch project to further develop the technology.
"In the CPVMatch project, we have followed all the manufacturing steps of the concentrator module, including materials, battery manufacturing and production systems, and battery module manufacturing." Gerald, project leader of III-V solar cells and modules of Fraunhofer ISE, Gerald Siefer said.
Although Fraunhofer ISE has achieved remarkable results, and researchers have stated that they can “optimize the production of four-junction solar cells”, it is worth noting that the mass production of III-V materials is extremely expensive, and so far only satellites And niche applications like drones and drones use III-V materials.
In addition, this achievement has also promoted Concentrated Photovoltaic Power (CPV) to better compete with Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), which uses the heat energy converted from solar energy to heat water to generate water vapor, pushing the turbine to rotate and the generator to operate Electricity generation is mostly used in hot, dry and low-cloud areas.